February 21, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
HUNDREDS of people gathered in Newtown on Monday, 21 February, to watch a live broadcast on two huge television screens as Gauteng premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, formally opened the 2005 sitting of the Gauteng Legislature.
Braving the rainy weather, which threatened to disrupt proceedings at the square, people started to trickle in well before Shilowa began his speech.
An array of the country's popular musicians and performers, including maskhandi group Ingane Zoma, kept the crowd on their feet with spirited performances, lending a warm atmosphere to an otherwise damp setting.
On the far side of the square, opposite the stage, a snaking line developed with people jostling to collect memorabilia, calendars and brochures produced by Gauteng's various departments.
When the clock struck 9.30am, a hush fell over the crowd and Shilowa, his voice reverberating around the cultural walls of Newtown, began to outline the annual provincial government's plans "to make Gauteng a better place in the year ahead".
"I am delighted with the premier's promise to provide free transport for poor pupils who live far away from their homes," said 17-year old Obed Skosana from Esibonelo Esihle High School in Duduza. "I also find Shilowa's plans to feed, provide free education and uniforms to school-going children whose parents receive a child support grant a welcome gesture."
Skosana and four school friends travelled from Duduza to attend the event. Buses were provided by the provincial government to ferry people from around Gauteng to the Mary Fitzgerald Square, the Bara Taxi Rank, Park Station, the Germiston Taxi Rank, and Mabopane and Denneboom stations, where large screens were set up to broadcast Shilowa's speech.
Thomas Makhubela from Chiawelo, Soweto, said even though the premier's speech was optimistic, there was much to be done to provide jobs for the thousands of unemployed.
"I was retired very early from my last job. I am still fit to work and I have been all over Johannesburg trying to find work but to no avail. The issue of the 'age gap', that young people ranging from ages 18 to 35 should be given priority in employment, is unfair to some of us who are over 35. The premier should address these issues."
Mxolisi Siguba, also from Chiawelo, urged the province to build more RDP (reconstruction for development) houses. "I am over 40 but I still rent a house. I don't have a house that I can call my own."
After his speech, delivered at the Gauteng Legislature offices a stone's throw from Newtown, Shilowa put in an appearance at the Mary Fitzgerald Square and delivered a summary of his speech in Sotho and Zulu.
Shilowa promised to upgrade water and sanitation infrastructure in old townships in Johannesburg.
He said the province will provide houses for the homeless and gave an example of the Brickfields housing development in Newtown, which caters for the lower income and middle-income groups.
He also said the provincial government is bent on providing access to education to all children. With regard to child safety, Shilowa said the government would tighten screws on school transport providers. "In the next three months, we shall ensure that all buses go for testing before they ferry children to school."
And, in keeping with the atmosphere in the square, Shilowa did a farewell Zulu dance to the sounds of Ingane Zoma, much to the delight of the crowd.
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